Jersey City voters cast ballots in special election for Ward F City Council seat

Voters in Jersey City's Ward F, some of whom have been without power for a week thanks to Hurricane Sandy, turned out to the polls tonight to cast their ballots for the special election to pick a Ward F council member.

Four candidates are battling each other for the seat, which was vacated last year by Viola Richardson when she became a councilwoman at large.

Michele Massey, appointed to take Richardson’s place until tonight’s election, is running against pastor Tryone Ballon, nonprofit head Diane Coleman, and activist Debby Walker.

At a polling center on Union Street, there was a "huge turnout," volunteer Joy Duncan said.

"It was overwhelming. It was a beautiful thing because we're trying to get the right person in office here," Duncan said.

Diane Coleman supporter Juanita Epps, standing near the polling site, said, "She gets my vote because you can tell she wants to do right for the community.”

Morris Vice, 54, said Massey is a terrific leader.

"She shows how much she cares and is always approachable,” Vice said.

At a nearby Astor Place polling site, Michael Burgess, 52, said he supports Ballon's bid for the seat.

"He's working on getting more 'unity' in the community," Burgess said.

He added that the turnout at the polls wasn't as heavy as he hoped, but said he felt that Ballon tried the most to appeal to Ward F voters.